______________________________________________________________________________ French Guiana – Le Recensement Agricole 2010 - Explanatory Notes French Guiana, the largest Department of the French Territory, is recorded in the World Census of Agriculture Database at country level in the South American Region for statistical purposes only. Consequently, results related to France bear only upon the territory of France in Europe (France Metropolitaine). Historical outline Previous agricultural censuses were conducted in 1970, 1979, 1988 and 2000 Legal basis and organization The Decree No. 86-1169 of October 31st, 1986 established (Art. 3) that the agricultural statistics in the French territories of Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion will be under the authority of the French Minister of Agriculture through the Director of Agriculture and Forest. The European Community Regulation EC 1166/2008 approved by the European Parliament and the Council establishes at European level the realization of decennial census of agriculture. Under this provision, the Decree No. 2009-529 of May 11th, 2009, established the undertaking of the 2010 Census of Agriculture in the French overseas departments. The Statistical Service of the French Guiana’s Direction of Food, Agriculture and Forest was commended with the actual undertaking of the census. It was founded by the French National budget. The field work for the 2010 Census of Agriculture, involved 70 enumerators. Enumeration period The census of agriculture was enumerated during the period September 2010 – June 2011. Reference period/date The census reference year was the 2009-2010 farming season - for crops, methods of production and labour. The 1st of November, 2010, for livestock. Calendar years 2008, 2009 and 2010 were taken into account for rural development. Definition of the statistical unit: A farm is defined as an economic unit that is part of agricultural production and meets simultaneously the following three conditions: 1) it has an agricultural activity; 2) it is subjected to a current independent management; 3) it reaches or exceeds a certain size (area, number of animals, production, etc.) according to set out thresholds. Agricultural holdings were classified in: Individual operator; Non-Dairy Civil Society (Non-daity GAEC); Earl Company; De facto group; Dairy civil society (SCL); Dairy GAEC; Other civil society; Commercial company or coop; Common cropping society; Other juridical person (school, hospital);Another individual Geographical coverage The census covered the whole country Statistical coverage The holdings with activity over at least one of the following cut-off limits were enumerated: - 1 hectare of agricultural area, or - 0.2 hectares of specialized crops; - or at least has a minimum number of animals (1 broodmare or mule, 1 cow, 2 cattle older than 2 years, 1 sow mother, 6 sheep mothers, 6 goats, 10 rabbits mother, 100 poultry) or 1000 hatching eggs capacity,, or 10 hives in production. or: - 20 acres of asparagus; - 20 acres of cabbage sauerkraut; - 15 acres of strawberries; - 5 acres in gardening (not for only consumption); - 5 acres of floral and ornamental crops; - 10 acres under vine producing original appellation wines (AOC); - 5 acres of vineyards in Champagne; - 5 acres of nursery: wine, ornamental, fruit, forest; - 40 individual fruit trees; 1 ______________________________________________________________________________ - or during the agricultural year 2009 at least: 2 horses for slaughtering, 5 calves, 5 pork, 10 sheep or 10 goats for slaughtering, 200 rabbit for meat, 500 broiler poultry; 50 fat poultry, 10000 eggs or 2 tons of chicory or 1 ton of mushrooms or watercress for sale. Holdings breeding fur animals such as mink, nutria, chinchillas, goats and angora rabbits as well as game farms in captivity for slaughter or sale-out hunting are also enumerated. Data items coverage All items from the WCA 2010 core module plus irrigation, agricultural practices, manpower, livestock and demographic data. In particular, the census covered: the area with temporary and permanent crops, livestock, ways of crop protection, machinery and equipment; other economic activities, end use of produce and management of holdings. Frame The census frame was formed in 2 phases: 1) reconciliation of available databases: a) the 2000 Census of agriculture farm directory; b) updated list of agricultural units of SIREN (French business register); c) list of holders that have made surface statements in context of agricultural aid. These 3 main sources were supplemented by local sources (beekeeping, olive oil, aromatic plants for perfume and medicinal herbs). 2) The communal commissions checked the lists, unit by unit, in every commune (territorial-administrative unit). Methodology The 22 Communes of Guiana were divided in Enumeration Areas and they were canvassed by census enumerators. The interviews were assisted by computing devices (CAPI) Data were manually keypunched. Data Dissemination and Use In November 2011 Preliminary data were published. Special features Production of renewable energy, diversification of agriculture and ways of trading were new items added in the 2010 Agricultural Census. There is a question referred to who will come after the holder for farm operation, if he/she has born before year 1960. Data source National methodological report, written by Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'alimentation, de la pêche, de la ruralité et de l'aménagement du territoire. Questionnaires and manuals. Website: www.agreste.agriculture.gouv.fr Mailing address / Census contact points Direction de l’Alimentation, de l’Agriculture et de la Forêt de Guyane Parc Rebard - BP 5002 - 97305 Cayenne Cedex. Tel.: 05 94 29 63 74 - Fax : 05 94 29 63 63 2 .